Convection Microwave Ovens For Serious Cooking

You may have started out just warming up leftovers and popping popcorn in your microwave oven. However, for those who want to save serious time when cooking delicious meals, convection microwave ovens can be a step up.

These ovens are able to do much more with food. On this page you can learn a bit more about convection microwave ovens and see some popular models from which to choose. You will even find links at the bottom of the page to help beginners find some recipes to try.

Convection microwave ovens offers some distinct advantages. Unlike traditional models, they are able to roast, bake, brown, and crisp food. They have internal fans which act to circulate air and help food to cook more quickly and to distribute heat more evenly.

While they are a bit more expensive than traditional microwaves, convection microwave ovens have continued to come down in price.

Before you select one of these microwaves, there are a few things to consider:

1. Size
If you will leave the oven on the countertop, clearly you'll need space for it, so be sure you know the dimensions before you buy. Many of these convection microwave ovens come with optional trim kits to allow you to mount them on the wall as well. Again, you need to know where you'll be mounting it, and the dimensions.

You'll also want to consider the interior capacity compared to the volume of food you'll be cooking. If you'll primarily be cooking and reheating food for one or two people at a time, a smaller oven is acceptable; something with around 1 cubic foot of capacity may be adequate. If you'll be cooking for a family, 1.2 cubic feet is probably the minimum. You'll need to be sure that the containers you'll typically be placing inside can be accommodated.

Having racks can allow you to fit in more smaller items at once. This means that you'll cook more quickly and items will be done at the same time.

2. Power
Microwave ovens have become increasingly powerful, allowing them to cook faster. Many microwave recipes are designed with an 800 Watt microwave in mind. More power can simply mean less time cooking.

3. Convenience Features
Sensors can allow the microwave to detect and adjust cooking times/power levels automatically. These ovens should also offer a number of one touch automated settings which can assure you get the right cooking time and temperature. More automated settings can mean that it will provide the settings you need for more of the foods you tend to cook.

If you want a timer, delayed start, the ability to add additional time while the oven is still running, and so forth, look for these features. Also check to be sure that the convection microwave oven you choose has the cooking modes you need. For instance, some will "grill", brown, and crisp, but some will not. If you won't be using the features that allow you to grill, bake, and broil, then you might be wise to consider a more traditional built-in or countertop microwave oven and save a bit of money.

This microwave is offered by Sharp. It is a 900W convection microwave with a .9 cubic feet capacity and 2 line, 12 digit interactive display for easy programming and finding cooking tips. It has grills that emit heat over and under food to allow it to brown or crisp.

It's features include:

- Eleven power levels
- 35 automatic settings for accessing preset times and power levels with the touch of a button
- CompuDefrost for automatically defrosting frozen foods quickly and evenly
- Optional trim kit to build the unit in versus leaving it on the countertop.
- A carousel turntable for even heating

This oven measures 20-1/2" x 12-1/8" x 19-3/4".

This convection microwave oven from Haier won't take up excessive counterspace. It measures approximately 15" x 20" x 13". It's a 1000 Watt oven with a 1-1/5 cubic feet capacity. It features a 12 2/5" glass turntable, digital clock and timer, wire baking rack, and an electronic control panel with a blue LCD display.

This oven has sensor cooking options and can cook, defrost, reheat, grill, bake, broil, and roast foods. It also offers 10 power levels.

This Panasonic 1100 Watt microwave oven offers a 1-1/2 cubic feet capacity. It has a 15" turntable, 10 power levels, a Keep Warm function that will maintain heat but avoid over cooking, a timer, and delayed start function.

This convection microwave oven has four-in-one cooking capabilities. You can choose Microwave mode (defrost, cook, or reheat food in minutes), Bake mode (bake and brown with circulating heated air), Broil mode (heat is quickly forced inside the food, sealing in juices and flavor), or Combination mode (the speed of microwaving combined with the baking and browning of convection).

Other features include:
- Inverter Technology to cook food with results similar to that of conventional-oven cooking but much faster
- Inverter Turbo Defrost technology to quickly and evenly defrosts foods
- Genius Prestige Sensor to automatically adjust power levels and calculate cooking and reheating times for various types of food at the touch of a button
- Two programmable dials for selecting the time/weight and temperature
- Multi-lingual menu action screen with step-by-step cooking instructions
- Reflective mirror door window
- Push-button door release
- Popcorn key
- Optional trim kit to build in versus leaving on the counter top

This is a 900 Watt convection microwave oven also from Sharp. It has a 1-1/2 cubic feet capacity, a two color 7 digit interactive display, interior light, a high and low rack, and 15 3/8" turntable.

It also features 11 power levels, reheat and popcorn sensors, and allows you to brown, bake, broil, and crisp foods. It measures 24 5/8" x 14 7/8" x 19" and comes with a one year warranty.